He settled in Natchez, Mississippi, where he won progressively higher political offices. He served in the U.S. Senate from February 23, 1870 until March 3, 1871.

After his term he served as President of Alcorn University and served as editor of the Southwestern Christian Advocate from 1876 until his retirement in 1882. He then taught theology at Shaw University. He died from a stroke in Aberdeen, Mississippi.